President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev has today attended the opening of the 21st Caspian International Oil & Gas Exhibition, held in Baku.

The president also made a speech at the opening of the event.

The 21st Caspian International Oil & Gas Exhibition, the largest event in the energy sector of the Caspian region, is taking place between June 3 and June 6 at the Baku Expo Center.

Every year, Caspian International Oil & Gas Exhibition gathers leading specialists and leading enterprises in the oil and gas industry to demonstrate advanced technologies for the extraction and processing of oil and gas, transportation and logistics, as well as industry related services.

The exhibition offers an opportunity to discuss trends in the development of the oil and gas market, potential prospects for cooperation in the Caspian region and the development of solutions for energy security issues around the world.

Some 402 companies from 29 countries will present their products and services at the exhibition. Famous companies from around the world attend the exhibition.

These companies include those which were involved in the Contract of the Century - State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), BP, Statoil, OMV, TPAO, Lukoil and many others.

Local companies comprise 35 percent of the total number of exhibitors, while the total growth of the exhibition has reached 10 percent.

The four day exhibition will also feature a substantial business programme.

Over 500 delegates from more than 30 countries will take part in the annual conference.

More than 50 representatives of state bodies, leading experts in the oil and gas industry and chief executives of major oil and gas companies from different countries will speak at the conference.